Computing eigenfunctions of singular points in nonlinear parametrized two-point BVPs (Q1007388)

The parametrized two-point boundary value problem (BVP) for a system of \(n\) nonlinear ordinary differential equations \[ x' (t) = f (t, x (t); \Lambda), \quad a < t < b,\tag{*} \] subject to n nonlinear boundary conditions \[ r(x(a), x (b); \Lambda) = 0\tag{**} \] is considered, where \( x \in \mathbb R^n, f : \Omega_1 \to \mathbb R^n, \Omega_1 \subset (a,b) \times \mathbb R^n \times \mathbb R, r : \Omega_2 \to \mathbb R^n, \Omega_2 \subset \mathbb R^n \times \mathbb R^n \times \mathbb R\) and \(\Lambda \in \mathbb R\) is a control parameter. In (*) and (**), \(f\) and \(r\) are assumed to be sufficiently smooth. Usually the iterative computation of singular points in parametrized nonlinear BVPs such as (*) and (**) by extended systems requires good starting values for the singular point itself and the corresponding eigenfunction. Such starting values are normally generated automatically using path-following techniques. However, the path-following techniques do not provide approximations for the eigen-function if the singularity is a bifurcation point. In this paper, the authors propose modifications of this standard technique delivering such starting values. It is based on an extended system by which singular as well as non-singular points can be determined. Three numerical experiments are furnished to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.